t's very likely we are, but who knows?" answered the doctor.

"I do not want to lose my time in useless search," continued the
captain; "I want to be quick back to my ship, even if we don't find
the fuel."

"I believe we are certain of doing that," said the doctor.

"I often wish I had not left the _Forward_," said Hatteras; "a
captain's place is on board."

"Johnson is there."

"Yes; but--well, we must make haste, that's all."

The procession marched along rapidly; Simpson excited the dogs by
calling to them; in consequence of a phosphorescent phenomenon they
seemed to be running on a ground in flames, and the sledges seemed
to raise a dust of sparks. The doctor went on in front to examine
the state of the snow, but all at once he disappeared. Bell, who was
nearest to him, ran up.

"Well, Mr. Clawbonny," he called out in anxiety, "where are you?"

"Doctor!" called the captain.

"Here, in a hole," answered a reassuring voice; "throw me a cord,
and I shall soon be on the surface of the globe again."

They threw a cord to the doctor, who was at the bottom of a hole about
ten feet deep; he fastened it round his waist, and his companions
hauled him up with difficulty.

"Are you hurt?" asked Hatteras.

"Not a bit," answered the doctor, shaking his kind face, all covered
with snow.

"But how did you tumble down there?"

"Oh, it was the refraction's fault," he answered laughing. "I thought
I was stepping across about a foot's distance, and I fell into a hole
ten feet deep! I never shall get used to it. It will teach us to sound
every step before we advance. Ears hear and eyes see all topsy-turvy
in this enchanted spot."

"Can you go on?" asked the captain.

"Oh, yes; the little fall has done me more good than harm."

In the evening the travellers had marched twenty-five miles; they
were worn out, but it did not prevent the doctor climbing up an iceberg
while the snow-house was being built. The full moon shone with
extraordinary brilliancy in the clearest sky; the stars were
singularly bright; from the top of the iceberg the view stretched
over an immense plain, bristling with icebergs; they were of all sizes
and shapes, and made the field look like a vast cemetery, in which
twenty generations slept the sleep of death. Notwithstanding the cold,
the doctor remained a long time in contemplation of the spectacle,
and his companions had much trouble to get him away; but they were
obliged to think of rest; the